Lions Gate Films | Release Date: June 21, 2006
7.0
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
8
Mixed:
1
Negative:
3
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10
MaryB.Jul 10, 2006
Amazing movie ..Don't miss it.
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10
PhilR.Jul 9, 2006
if you're a fan this is a must see!! superb performances and great leonard clips of his life. very, very well done. i had a big smile on my face throughout.
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9
EnnisD.Jul 21, 2006
Basic, simple unpretentious. Though many of the interspersed interviews were either extraneous or a little trite, the simplicity and directness of the performancess were almost entirely all very moving. I didn't like Nick Cave that Basic, simple unpretentious. Though many of the interspersed interviews were either extraneous or a little trite, the simplicity and directness of the performancess were almost entirely all very moving. I didn't like Nick Cave that much. And, watching Rufus Wainright struggling to see the teleprompter on one song, was distracting. But all in all, Rufus and the rest of the gang all did very well on everything else. Cohen's experiences at the zen monastery were very interesting. More on this rather than the more mundane of the interviews would have been interesting. Cohen's songs are incredible and the interpretations are genuinely stirring. Expand
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2
AdamM.Nov 16, 2006
I consider myself a Leonard Cohen fan, but this film was tedious at best. I mean no disrespect to artists like Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright and Beth Orton, but surely they could have done better for a tribute concert to one of the I consider myself a Leonard Cohen fan, but this film was tedious at best. I mean no disrespect to artists like Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright and Beth Orton, but surely they could have done better for a tribute concert to one of the greatest songwriters of all-time. But the fact that this tribute concert is the centrepeice of the film is part of the problem; I think a more effective documentary would have focused on interviews with Cohen interspersed with his own definitive performances of his own songs. Expand
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3
[Anonymous]Dec 7, 2006
I am a Cohen fan, but this film embarrassing. I am not sure what the director was trying to do, but she failed miserably (what was the deal with the random waitress with the red sparkling dress??). Bono, the Edge and company get their greasy I am a Cohen fan, but this film embarrassing. I am not sure what the director was trying to do, but she failed miserably (what was the deal with the random waitress with the red sparkling dress??). Bono, the Edge and company get their greasy finger in this one too. Aside from a few good performances this film offers not but frustration to Cohen fans. Save your money and go listen to 'Songs of Love & Hate', or read 'Parasites of Heaven.' Expand
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10
AmaC.Jul 27, 2006
Big smile on face here too! - Tears too. The Leonard Cohen who comes across as a wry 71-year-old fully at peace with not taking himself seriously is MY man.... U2, Nick Cave, Rufus, Antony, Cocker and the others are passionate, humble and Big smile on face here too! - Tears too. The Leonard Cohen who comes across as a wry 71-year-old fully at peace with not taking himself seriously is MY man.... U2, Nick Cave, Rufus, Antony, Cocker and the others are passionate, humble and sincereand magnificent overall. The female voices and passion out of this world. whatever the sour grapes (& political??) critics say, this is an important documentary for those of us with a soul and a heart. It should rate much higher with the critics...but who believes them anyway! Expand
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3
WolfiefishSep 15, 2006
I'm not a major fan, but I do own 2 Cohen cd's and think that he is a great song writer. I had my reservations about seeing this film, thinking it might be a dull affair. So I decided to check out the critics, and more importantly, I'm not a major fan, but I do own 2 Cohen cd's and think that he is a great song writer. I had my reservations about seeing this film, thinking it might be a dull affair. So I decided to check out the critics, and more importantly, the user reviews. I became interested after such positive comments and decided to go and see it. Metacritic! You let me down! I cannot believe there were no real bad reviews! This film stinks. It should have been called Leonard Cohens works get butchered in the style of a pub singer. (Nick Cave). Only Jarvis Cocker held his own on stage, and everyone else looked and sounded second rate. Maybe it's just my taste in music, but after I got back home I had to put some Cohen on again just to remind me what it was that I liked about the guy in the first place. Ok, the interviews with Cohen were interesting, at times inaudiable, but the comments by the "So called musicians" (Bono and the Edge) made me want to throw up. I fell asleep twice through this movie, and it was in an open air cinema. Don't see the film. Instead buy a bottle of wine, invite friends over and have a Cohen night in with your cd collection. Expand
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8
KenRFeb 26, 2019
This coverage seems to be made up of footage from one or more Leonard Cohen tribute concerts of 2005 at the Sydney Opera House – a line-up of various international artists is shown performing a selection of his songs. Dispersed throughout theThis coverage seems to be made up of footage from one or more Leonard Cohen tribute concerts of 2005 at the Sydney Opera House – a line-up of various international artists is shown performing a selection of his songs. Dispersed throughout the concert is added personal interview footage and clips featuring Leonard performing with some universally mainstream artists. This mix of images is not always as successful as intended - with some of it actually looking rather cheap, especially for a tribute to Leonard Cohen. The most effective added song clip consists of Mr Cohen giving a haunting and perhaps prophetic rendition of “Tower Of Song” – for this performance he is accompanied by none other than U2 and the Edge. These megastar musicians are clearly in awe of the privilege to perform with their legendary hero. Some of the concert camerawork is at times a little shoddy and not all of the chosen artists seem altogether right for certain songs but, this of course is personal and will vary for each viewer. Much of Mr Cohen’s work needs explaining and the interviews unfortunately give little away about some of the hidden meaning – in fact, its clear Mr Cohen has chosen to disclose very little about his inner feelings. Leonard claims he’s not a nostalgic man and has no regrets about past relationships, yet his music constantly speaks of brokenness.

Interviews with various musos all tend to relate how Leonard’s songs have helped them navigate through a range of dark life experiences, and to ease the pain of many personal situations. Was he simply a gifted storyteller/poet/prophet or was it from a deeper driven force? His classic song from The Future ‘Anthem’ tells us; “There’s a Crack in the Universe” (that’s how the ‘light’ gets in) strongly suggests a man seeking major social justice. Much about Mr Cohen seems to point to a soul in search of itself and a longing for completeness that perhaps was never found. Some of these searches involved Eastern or Japanese Gurus - all of which he personally broke-off as never quite working for him. He also looked at the influences of the Kabbalah school of thought of Judaism. Maybe he, like many others, did not want to admit to anything like his own incompleteness? Or simply knew that the enigma that surrounds his music and personality - was adding to his popularity – a mix of both I dare suggest (?)

The artists who commit a huge amount of interpretive emotion to several of his songs are namely London born: Teddy Thompson performing “Tonight Will Be Fine” with the sad follow-on lyrics, suggesting that this, will be so, at least...’for a while’. Thompson’s voice has the necessary cry to carry this sentiment perfectly. The DVD extras include Teddy’s equally emotional rehearsal for this fine song. Curious English singer; Anthony, also hits the right note with her powerful version of “If It Be Your Will” making it an affecting experience. Canadians Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright and English born Jarvis Cocker give equally evocative performances to their allotted (?) songs. Many others should please followers of Leonard’s enigmatic songs and music – though, perhaps, none quite ‘make it’ as do the originals (?) – Again, this will be personal for each viewer.
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